Overview
The Certified Lactation Support Specialist™ (CLSS™) Standards of Practice define the professional expectations, boundaries, and practice responsibilities of individuals who hold the CLSS™ credential. These standards describe how CLSS™ certificants provide lactation-related education and support, and serve as a foundation for candidate preparation, training alignment, and public understanding of the role.
CLSS™ certificants provide evidence-informed, family-centered lactation support across the perinatal continuum. The role is non-clinical and complementary to the work of licensed healthcare providers and lactation professionals.
All CLSS™ certificants are expected to practice in accordance with these Standards of Practice and the CLSS™ Code of Ethics.
Scope and Role Clarification
CLSS™ certificants:
- Provide education, anticipatory guidance, and emotional and practical support related to infant feeding and lactation
- Practice within a clearly defined, non-clinical scope
- Recognize when concerns exceed their scope and facilitate timely referral
- Collaborate respectfully with clinical lactation professionals and healthcare providers
CLSS™ certificants do not perform clinical assessments, diagnose conditions, prescribe treatments, or replace licensed or certified clinical lactation care.
Standard I: Prenatal Lactation Preparation
CLSS™ certificants provide evidence-informed prenatal lactation education that prepares families for early feeding experiences. This includes:
- Educating families on normal newborn feeding behaviors, hunger cues, and early milk production
- Discussing common parental, infant, and contextual factors that may influence feeding experiences
- Supporting family-centered planning that aligns with individual values, goals, and circumstances
- Using communication strategies that build confidence, address concerns, and establish realistic expectations
- Recognizing prenatal concerns that require referral to a lactation professional or healthcare provider
Standard II: Postpartum Lactation Support
CLSS™ certificants support families during the postpartum period by:
- Providing education on normal lactation physiology and typical early feeding patterns
- Offering anticipatory guidance related to latch, positioning, and feeding frequency within scope
- Supporting families experiencing common, non-pathological lactation challenges using appropriate, within-scope strategies
- Identifying signs that exceed the CLSS™ scope of practice and facilitating appropriate referral
- Collaborating with lactation professionals, healthcare providers, and perinatal support teams to promote continuity of care
Standard III: Pumping, Milk Expression, and Equipment Support
CLSS™ certificants provide foundational education and support related to milk expression by:
- Educating families on safe and effective milk expression and storage practices
- Providing general guidance on pump operation, care, and basic troubleshooting
- Explaining general principles of flange fit and the appropriate, within-scope use of sizing tools, with referral for individualized assessment when indicated
- Supporting families in understanding bottle introduction and paced feeding approaches
- Empowering families to select and integrate pumping strategies that align with their feeding goals, lifestyle, and health considerations
Standard IV: Professional Practice, Ethics, and Collaboration
CLSS™ certificants practice professionally and ethically by:
- Adhering to the CLSS™ Code of Ethics and maintaining appropriate professional boundaries
- Protecting confidentiality and privacy in accordance with ethical and legal requirements applicable to their role or setting
- Practicing within the defined CLSS™ scope of practice and referring appropriately for clinical care
- Communicating and collaborating effectively with lactation professionals, healthcare providers, and community partners
- Engaging in culturally humble, inclusive, and person-centered practice that honors diverse feeding experiences, family structures, and identities
- Maintaining professional documentation consistent with ethical and privacy standards
Standard V: Communication, Education, and Community Engagement
CLSS™ certificants contribute to informed and equitable lactation support by:
- Using evidence-informed, respectful communication to promote informed decision-making
- Providing accurate, inclusive, and non-judgmental lactation education in individual and community settings
- Supporting equitable access to lactation resources and support within communities and professional networks
- Engaging in ongoing professional development to maintain competence and uphold the integrity of the CLSS™ credential
Relationship to Training and Certification
These Standards of Practice:
- Inform the competencies assessed through the CLSS™ certification process
- Guide alignment for education and training providers preparing candidates for CLSS™ certification
- Support transparency and public understanding of the CLSS™ role
Holding the CLSS™ credential signifies that the certificant has demonstrated alignment with these Standards of Practice and is committed to ethical, evidence-informed, family-centered lactation support within scope.
Last updated: December 2025
